New Studies Show Vaping Could Cause “Popcorn Lung” Cancer

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FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) -- For those who enjoy smoking, the new trend among many is using e-cigarette’s.

E-cigarettes are electronic devices that are thought to be less harmful to smokers than regular cigarettes.

Although studies show only 15% of American’s regularly smoke, the emergence of e-cigarettes and “vaping” has taken the smoking industry by storm.

Wade Morris, who owns The Glass Shop in Fayetteville, says the e-cigarettes can be addicting. However, he said they are less harmful than cigarettes.

“I think there is definitely good health benefits to [vaping],” Morris said. “Nicotine is addictive. Yes. But, the vegetable glycerin is not. A lot of them are just a vegetable glycerin. Instead of all of these tars and carcinogens, those are all derived. They are extracted from the tobacco. You are going to leave a lot of the tars and carcinogens behind. So, it is going to be pretty beneficial, health wise.”

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, studies showed e-cig users are five-to-15 times more likely to get formaldehyde-related cancer, compared to regular cigarette smokers.

Studies showed the formaldehyde levels can ultimately cause a cancer, commonly referred to as “popcorn lung.”

It is an issue which the American Vaping Association said is not accurately proven.

“This is not the first study to show that improper machine testing of vapor products can produce high levels of formaldehyde…these are not settings that vapors actually use purposefully,” the association said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Morris said many, including the older generations, are still resorting to e-cigs.

Morris said the lower nicotine levels are beneficial for those looking to quit smoking.

“A lot of the older population is coming in, because they had smoked for 40 or 50 years. They are trying to find a way out, and it is a good way to stop,” Morris said.

There is no conclusive evidence to support that vaping can be any more effective at helping a traditional smoker quit than traditional nicotine replacement therapies such as patches and gums. These juices come in thousands of different flavors from hundreds of manufacturers and are marketed heavily toward children and teens. Without any FDA regulation there is no conclusive way to say that these are a safe product.